IP Library Granted Patent US 11,690,476
Granted Patent B2
US 11,690,476 · App. 15/733,638 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Direct-current solid-fuel grill

Inventors: Michael Colston (Salt Lake City, UT); Daniel W. Sluder (Salt Lake City, UT); Daniel A. Altenritter (Riverton, UT)
Assignee: Traeger Pellet Grills, LLC
A47J37/0704A47J37/079A47J37/0754
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,690,476
App. No.
15/733,638
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A direct-current (DC) solid-fuel grill comprises a direct-current power source and a direct-current auger motor receiving power from the direct-current power source. The DC solid-fuel grill may also comprise a solid-fuel grill component configured to be driven by the direct-current auger motor. A direct-current controller or processor is in communication with the direct-current auger motor. The direct-current controller or processor is configured to provide at least a first signal to the direct-current auger motor causing the solid-fuel grill component to actuate at a first velocity, and a second signal to the direct-current auger motor causing the solid-fuel grill component to actuate at a second velocity.

Claims (44)

1. A direct-current solid-fuel grill comprising:

a direct-current power source;

a direct-current motor receiving power from the direct-current power source;

a solid-fuel grill component configured to be driven by the direct-current motor;

a heating element configured to provide a temperature reading when the heating element is not powered; and

a direct-current controller in communication with the heating element and the direct-current motor, wherein the direct-current controller is configured to:

provide a first signal to the direct-current motor causing the solid-fuel grill component to actuate at a first velocity;

provide a second signal to the direct-current motor causing the solid-fuel grill component to actuate at a second velocity;

provide a third signal to the heating element; and

terminate the third signal from the heating element and receive the temperature reading from the heating element when the third signal is terminated.

2. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the solid-fuel grill component comprises a blower.

3. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the solid-fuel grill component comprises a solid-fuel auger.

4. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the first velocity comprises a positive velocity and the second velocity comprises a negative velocity.

5. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the direct-current power source comprises a solar panel.

6. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the direct-current power source comprises a removable battery.

7. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the direct-current controller comprises a microprocessor.

8. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the direct-current controller comprises a voltage controller.

9. The direct-current solid-fuel grill of claim 1 , wherein the direct-current controller identifies operating characteristics of the solid-fuel grill component.

10. A method for operating a direct-current solid-fuel grill, the method comprising:

receiving, at a direct-current motor, power from a direct-current power source;

receiving, from a direct-current controller, a first signal to actuate the direct-current motor, wherein the first signal causes the direct-current motor to actuate at a first velocity;

driving, with the direct-current motor, a solid-fuel grill component at the first velocity;

receiving at least one of a velocity measurement from the direct-current motor and a temperature measurement from a temperature sensor;

determining that solid fuel being fed by a solid-fuel auger has clogged based on at least one of the velocity measurement and the temperature measurement;

in response to determining that solid fuel being fed by the solid-fuel auger has clogged, receiving, from the direct-current controller, a second signal to actuate the direct-current motor, wherein the second signal causes the direct-current motor to actuate at a second velocity and the second velocity is a negative velocity such that the solid-fuel auger reverses direction; and

driving, with the direct-current motor, the solid-fuel grill component at the second velocity.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid-fuel grill component comprises a blower.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid-fuel grill component comprises the solid-fuel auger.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first velocity comprises a positive velocity and the second velocity comprises a negative velocity.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the direct-current power source comprises a solar panel.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the direct-current power source comprises a removable battery.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the direct-current controller comprises a microprocessor.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the direct-current controller comprises a voltage controller.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the direct-current controller identifies operating characteristics of the solid-fuel grill component.

19. A direct-current solid-fuel grill comprising:

a direct-current power source;

a first direct-current motor receiving power from the direct-current power source;

a solid-fuel auger configured to be actuated by the first direct-current motor; and

a second direct-current motor receiving power from the direct-current power source;

a blower configured to be actuated by the first direct-current motor; and

a direct-current controller in communication with the first direct-current motor and the second direct-current motor, wherein the direct-current controller is configured to:

provide a first signal to the first direct-current motor and a third signal to the second direct-current motor causing the solid-fuel auger to actuate at a first velocity and the blower to actuate at a third velocity;

provide a second signal to the at least one of the first direct-current motor or the second direct-current motor causing the at least one of the solid-fuel auger or the blower to actuate at a second velocity; and

alternate the first signal and the third signal, such that the solid-fuel auger and the blower are not operating at the first velocity and the third velocity at a same time.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2024
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067276/0414 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: TRAEGER PELLET GRILLS LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057434/0500 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2020
From: COLSTON, MICHAEL; ALTENRITTER, DANIEL A.; SLUDER, DANIEL W.
To: TRAEGER PELLET GRILLS, LLC
Reel/Frame 054743/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2020
From: COLSTON, MICHAEL; SLUDER, DANIEL; ALTENRITTER, DANIEL
To: TRAEGER PELLET GRILLS, LLC
Reel/Frame 053849/0848 →